KARACHI, Oct 18: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad has called for designing such housing schemes which have access to all roads near the city.

He said a complete feasibility report be prepared in this regard with the help of the city government and concerned departments and for obtaining bank loans on easy terms.

Presiding over a high-level meeting in the Governor’s House, the governor said that in all new schemes, land should be allocated for educational and technical institutions, parks, playgrounds, worship places, auditorium etc in the middle of the scheme while keeping technical aspects of horizontal and vertical planning in view.

He directed that in Taisar Town and the Malir Development Authority, their master plan be formulated by streamlining the residential urban planning concept and wholesale markets be set up for the provision of consumer goods.

Dr Ishratul Ibad pointed out that credibility served as a basic ingredient in housing affairs and it became visible only through quality of work and its timely completion.

He underlined the need for accelerating the pace of work on completed and under-completion projects to make it possible for low income people to have possession of their residential unit.

He observed that long-term residential projects generally proved unsuccessful due to lack of interest by people and particularly in a megacity as Karachi, the housing problem was assuming a serious shape.

He said while designing urban planning, it was imperative to look at the income level of people.

The governor directed that every new housing project should have 10 per cent quota for government employees while `Saiban Scheme’ of the National Bank can also play an active role in an early acquisition of houses.

In the meeting, the Arash Venture company, briefed the governor on the proposed projects for low- and middle-income groups.

The meeting was attended, among others, by Chief Secretary Fazlur Rehman, City Nazim Mustafa Kamal, Principal Secretary Saleem Khan, Additional Chief Secretary for Local Government Mirza Karim Baig, DCO of Karachi Fazlur Rehman, and other senior officials.—APP